Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-07
OHIO COUNTY GOLD.
AURIFBROUs DEPOSITS LOCATED WITHIN A
DOZEN NILES OF WHEELING


For the past twenty years the farmers
living along the valley Of Middle Wheeling
creek, about six OF seven miles from Elm
Grove, have been aware Of the existence of
ledge Of gold-bearing rock in the vicinity,
but no attempt 20 far as we are aware,
was ever made TO ascertain its extent or
value, the people upon whose land it was
known or suspected to exist, being content
with thinking the deposit would not repay
working. while great many regarded the
whole matter rs q myth, unworthy Of
credence for moment. Early last spring
Mr.. Edward Mcconnell. an old
miner, who has welded the
pick over goodly portion Of the far West,
was invited to look at the alleged aurifer-
ous ores, and after thorough inspection
be decided it was worth while TO have
shy at the ledge. He associated Mr. Alfred
Kinney, also an old gold miner, with him,
and in March the two men. after making
contract and lease with Hiram White, o
land owner on the water OF Gillespie's run,
went to work. Yesterday Mcconnell and
Kinney were in town with the results Of a
fire test OF some OF the rock in their clothes,
and to REGISTER reporter they made
very interesting statement of the present
situation and prospects. Mr.. Mcconnell
said:
The rock has been ttaced over an area
Ats 4
working about twelve miles from town, and
some two or three miles from the Marshall
county line. The rock is grayish shale,
and crops out on the hillside, about mid
way between the veins of what are called
the Pittsburg and Wheeling coal. We
have 10 far drifted in about twelve feet,
and find the rock richer the farther hack
We get from the surface. What il will
finally pan ont we don't know, but the in
dications are very satisfactory. The gold Is
now found in paying quantities. Our test
shows something ii the neighborhoOd Of ten
ounces 10 the ton. This is "a fair yield, by
comparison with this test OF Mexican ore,
which is set down at eight ounces. Ten
ounces means $50, and that, in this
county Of cheap labor and power, means .
j
that miners can be had for less
than the Western 81 per day,
while natural gns is decidedly ahead Of
wood cut in the mountains and hauled TO the
furnaces Of the stamping mills at large
cost. The rock is very much softer than
any stuff | ever saw in the West. A little
dynamite shakes out ton of IL at time,
while out West have seen q blow with
heavy sledge on steel drill barely scratch
the tiinty rock, aud hole once made, the
charge only jolts out about a peck Of
stuff The rock out on the creek IL charged
with chlorides and sulphur, which rapidly
decomposes under exposure TO the weather.
There Is also q considerable quantity of
iron phyrates in it, which gives II u spark
ling appearance, but Of couIse adds moth.
ing 10 its value. We have been keeping
the thing rather quiet, for many have ridi-
culed us for expecting TO find gold In this
country, but we know what we're about,
and will push the hole deeper As fast n
possible"
Messrs Mcconnell and Mckinney had
with them three bone dust cupels, contain
ing small nuggets, the result Of their fire
test. Each cupel had a capacity Of proba-
bly, tablespoon, and the little buttons Of
gold lay in the bottom. The one resulting
from the test Of Mexican ore, placcd at
eight ounces 10 the ton, was much smaller
than the two buttons Of Ohio county gold,
and the estimate OF ten Ounccs for the lat
ter was very moderate. The gentlemen
will have an analysis OF the rock made at
once by a competent chemist, and the
result will be awaited with interest.